Gailey Brothers' Rivalry Leads To Photo Finishes

GOLF

August 18, 1991|By George Taylor

HAMPSTEAD — The Gailey brothers -- according to a Piney Branch joke -- may have decided to split the golf club's tournament spoils.

Considering their records, the quip has some substance. Between the three of them -- Carol, Wayne and Steve -- they have captured 14 of Piney Branch's major championships, all within the last dozen years.

Origin of the joke came from the manner in which Carol and Wayne won the last two match play titles.

Last year, Wayne, 53, edged Carol, 50, one up in a scheduled 36-hole final that went 37 holes. Thisyear, the same two reached the final again, and this time it was Carol's turn to win on the 37th green.

Before these photo finishes, it was younger brother Steve, 48, who won the match play crown.

However, as far as Carol is concerned, nothing could be farther from thetruth than a trade-off of titles with his brothers.

"In fact," hesaid, "while I hold no bitterness in my matches with either Wayne orSteve, I think I play harder than usual when they are my opponents. I neither give nor expect any gimme putts with them. If I'm the winner, I have the satisfaction that I've beaten a good player."

For one of the rare times in Carol's matchups with Wayne, it seemed this final would be a blow-out. Carol held a commanding four-up lead after 18 holes and, by his own admission, was "hitting the ball as good as possible."

Despite this, Wayne picked away at Carol's lead and cameto the 36th hole trailing just one down. Then, for the second straight year, the battle was thrown into extra holes as Wayne deadlocked matters with a birdie on the 36th. On the first playoff hole, Carol won with par.

Barbara Linder became a first-time winner of the women's championship when she defeated Diana Tames, one up, in the final.

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Westminster High seniorDean Blankenship brought a sectional golf title back to Carroll County by way of his triumph in the Middle Atlantic Golf Association's Junior Championship, held at Argyle Country Club.

The 17-year-old, representing Wakefield Valley, posted a 73 to become overall winner ofthe event. Gerald Lee of Turf Valley was second with a 74.

Earlier this year, Blankenship was third in the Pro-Junior Tournament at Rockey Point, scoring a 73. He finished fourth in the PGA/Nordlinger Junior tournament at Mount Vernon Country Club.